Hinge



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l.

R. M. TOWSON.

HINGE.

No. 414,461. Patented Nov.' 5, 1889.

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(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. M. TOWSON..

HINGE. No. 414,46l. Patqnted Nov. 5, l889.

' UNITED STATES PATENT RICHARD M. TOW'SON, (DF-STAFFORD COURT-HOUSE, VIRGINIA.

HINGE.

` SPECIFICATION forming'part of Letters Patent No. 414,461, dated November 5, 1889.

Application filed January 26, 1889. Serial No. 297,614. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD M. Towson, of Stafford Court-House, in the county of Stafford and State of Virginia, have invented certain Improvements in Hinges, of which the following is a specification.

In various articles of furniture it is desirable that the hinges employed in connection therewith should be entirely concealed from view, and that dust, dirt, or other foreign substances should be prevented from entering therein when closed.

To these ends my invention consists in an improved hinge of peculiar construction arranged in such manner withi relation Vto the parts united thereby that it is entirely concealed from view when the saidparts are closed, at the same time maintaining a close joint between their meeting edges, the said hinge being combined with a spring arranged to act thereonr and to maintain the parts norreally in a closed position.

It further consists in an attachment or cover for the hinge, adapted to automatically close over the s'ame when the parts are open to conceal the hinge. i

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective View of one form of my hinge, the hinge-cover being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-section of the same on the line .fc :n of Fig. l, the hinge-cover being shown in full lines. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of the same when closed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the parts of the hinge detached. Fig. 5 is a modification of one of the sustaining-plates. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the hinge. Fig. 7 is a perspective View of another modification. Fig. S is a perspective view of a modified form of the hinge applied to a door opening in and out. Fig. 9 is a horizontal section of the same.

Referring to Figs. l to 5, A represents the stationary member of the lid, and B the movable member of the same.

In applying my hinge I form in the meeting edges of the parts A and B recesses a and b, constructed to receive the sustaining-plates of the hinges which are fastened therein.

In constructing my hinge of the form shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3 I providethe two sustainingsaid edges is maintained.

plates C and C', each consisting of the base portion c, the two end pieces c and c2, as shown in Fig. 4., and the side piece c3. To the edge of each of the base portions c, I pivot a leaf D by means of a pin passing through tubular eyes formed on their adjacent edges, and to the upper edge of each of the side pieces c3, I pivot in 'a similar manner a leaf or link E. These two leaves E are provided with tongues or lingers e, c', and e?, arranged at suitable distances apart, those on one leaf being opposite the spaces on the other leaf, so that they may interlock. These leaves eX- tend from the edges of the side pieces through each other in opposite directions, and are pivoted at their ends to the leaves D by means of the pivot-pins d and cl', and are also pivoted to one another between their ends by the pivot-pin d?.

'u o represent spring-plates, each having one of its ends iixed, respectively, to the sustaining-plates and the opposite end free andv dispensed with; but I prefer to employ two,

as shown in the drawings.

The end pieces c and c2 of the sustainingplate are provid ed with the outwardly-extending portions c5 and c, adapted to receive fastching-screws. V

In applying my hinge the sustaining-plates are fastened in the recess bymeans of fastening-screws passing therethrough and through the outwardly-extending portions c5 and c6. Vhen the parts are open, as shown in Fig. 2, it will be seen that the pivots CZ and d are widely separated from each other and project slightly beyond the edges of the lid; but when the lid is closed these pivots approach and the parts of the hinge assume the contracted position shown in Fig. 3, the result being that when thelid is completely closed the operative parts of the hinge are entirely concealed from view within the recesses formed between the meeting edges of the lid, and a close joint between The ends of the tongues e, c', and e2 are curved slightly where they are pivoted to the sides of the sustain- IOO ing-plates, in order that the edges of the lid may not encounter the tongues when the parts are widely open.

In order that the hinge may be concealed from view when the parts are in an open position, I provide the hinge-cover F, which is pivoted to the under side of the stationary portion of the lid at f, and is prevented from falling and is urged upward in contact with the lid B by the coiled spring f', applied as is usual in such cases. This cover is recessed, as shown in Fig. 2, to admit the projecting edges of the hinge, and is curved or otherwise suitably formed on its outer surface to present a finished appearance. This, however,

is not an essential feature, the only requirement being that it shall entirely conceal the hinge from view. Then the lid is widely opened, as shown in Fig. 2, thecover F will be held by its spring against the lid B over the hinge; but as the lid is closed the cover F will yield as it is pushed outward by the edge of the lid, and when completely closed the cover will lie against the side of the lid B. It will be seen that the operation of the cover F is automatic, it assuming its operative-and inoperative positions under the iniiuence of the spring.

Vhile the spring or its equivalent, applied to the hinge-cover in the manner shown, is essential to the proper operation of the latter in certain cases, it could be dispensed with in other cases and the cover caused to operate by gravity. For instance, if the parts shown in Fig. 2 were reversed, the upper member being ixed,with the cover F hinged to its upper edge, and the lower member being the moving one, the hinge-cover would then assume its positions automatically under the iniuence of its own weight.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of one of the sustaining-plates. In this form, instead of pivoting the lid D to the outer edge of the base, as shown in Fig. 4, it is pivoted at the base of the side piece c3 at its junction with the base portion. This construction is advantageous in that the screws confining the plate are more readily accessible in the event of removal and the plate is strengthened and rendered rigid, and is adapted to occupy less space than a plate constructed in accordance with the iirst-described plan.

v In Fig. 6 I have shown the hinge embodied in a modified form. The sustaining-plates in this case are flat and long and serve when fastened to the parts to be united to bind and strengthen the same. They are provided neartheir adjacent ends on the side with upturned flanges g and g5', to each of which are pivoted, in any suitable manner, links h y occupy less space than that rstdescribed.

This hinge is peculiarly applicable where it is desired to unite parts formed of thin wood. As shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the plates are shown as being applied below the surface of the wood, which is recessed to permit the parts to work freely. When thus applied, the sustaining-plates are concealed from view, the links only being exposed. It is obvious, however, that they could be applied to the snrface.

In Fig. 7 I have represented still another moditication of my hinge. In this case the sustaining-plates are provided with the ears t and t', between which are pivoted the links or leaves 7a and 7e ,which at the ends are pivoted to bars Z and l', the latter being pivoted together between their ends in a manner similar to the hinge last described. This hinge may be applied similarly to the hinge shown in Fig. 6, the principle involved being .the same in both cases.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have shown my hinge applied to a door opening in and out. The operating parts of the hinge are contained in casings xed in recesses formed in the edges of the door and door-frame, respectively. In constructing this hinge I provide two rectangular casings g and g', each consisting of a base g6 and the four sides g2, g3, g4, and g5, arranged at right angles thereto. These casings are fastened, by means of screws or otherwise, in recesses formed in the edge of the door and door-frame, and are provided each with two plates s and s', pivoted thereto and formed with the interlocking tongues or fingers s2, s3, and 34 those on one plate arranged to pass between those on the other plate and permitted to move freely therethrough. At their ends these plates are pivoted to two leaves t and't. These leaves are each formed with recesses t2 and t3, so that they may be interlocked in amanner similar to the plates last mentioned and cross each other at their center, as shown in Fig. 9, where they are pivoted together. Each of the casings has secured to its sides two spring bearingplates o and o', provided with tongues 02, o3, and o4, arranged to bear upon the fingers of the platesjs and s', and operate by forcing these plates inward to draw the door snugly against the frame, at the same time permitting it to yield when opened in either direction. Vhen the door is opened, the leaves are drawn apart against the iniiuence of the springs, and when released the said springs will return the same to its former position.

It will be observed that the door can be moved either to the rightor the left, one set of IOO IIO

springs'remaining inactive, while the others therein and the crossed and pivoted links seated in said recesses and pivotelly uniting the door and door-frame and constructed to elongate and contract with the movement of the door, in combination with the spring a1- ra-nged to not upon said links and to norinlly maintain them in e contracted position,

whereby the door is drawn snugly against the frame under the influence of the spring.

2. ln n hinge for a. door, the two sustainin g plates or casings, the leaves or links s and s', pivoted thereto and extending in opposite directions lacross one another, and the len-ves or links 1f and t', pivoted together :it their center nndpivoted attheirendsto the ends of the links s and s', in combination with the springs o and RlOl-IARD M. TOWSON. lVitnesses:

XV. W. MORTIMER, W. R. KENNEDY. 

